Ittipat fires late birdie to beat Chinnarat for Thai PGA opener win
[GOLF] Ittipat Buranatanyarat sank a crucial birdie on the 17th hole to beat Chinnarat Phadungsilp by one stroke during the final round of the BT2 Million Singha-SAT Kabinburi Championship at the Kabinburi Sports Club in Prachinburi yesterday.
The 24-year-olf from Nonthaburi was tied with the three-time Asian Tour champion with 11 under after 16 holes. However a needy birdie on the par five 540 yard 17 th hole propelled Ittipat to a victory, following a final 69 and a total 12 under-par 276 in the season opener of the Thailand PGA Tour.
“I’m so happy to be back in the winning circle again,” said Ittipat who lifted up a second PGA trophy following maiden at the Voyage Panorama Golf Club in 2015.
“I always want to win. But we all have to cope with this desire well as it could lead to greed and finally to disappointment. However I think I handle my situation quite well this week s I tried not to look at the leaders’ board. I just knew that I was leading one shot on the 18th,” said Ittipat who took home the winner’s cheque of BT240,000. He also viewed that the competiveness of the Thai PGA Tour has risen even in the qualifying round.
“I was thinking if I had to play the qualifying, I couldn’t have made it. It’s a one day qualification while the standard of the players are higher. The young guys are getting better.”
Chinnarat signed off with a 69 and a total 277 for the runner-up position which earned him BT132,000.
“I didn’t read the lie well today and missed chances to shoot lower scores. I hadn’t been quite confident with my game lately. I tried to take some risks today. Even I didn’t make it, I think it helps me in teerms of my physiological toughness,” said Chinnarat.
Two strokes off the lead were Pasavee Lertvilai, with a final 66 and Ratchapol Jantavara , with a 70. Both took the tied third with 278 each.
The next local PGA event will stop at the Suavarnabhumi Golf and Country Club between 19-22 April.
